Quiz 3: Plate Tectonics
When a stress is applied to rocks within the Lithosphere, the rocks will tend to deform ...? a) Brittley, by fracturing b) Ductile, by fracturing c) Ductile, by flowing d) Brittley, by flowing
a) Brittley, by fracturing
What type of plate boundary is Iceland forming on top of? a) Divergent Plate Boundary b) Subduction Zone c) Collisional Plate Boundary d) Transform Plate Boundary
a) Divergent Plate Boundary
Which of the following pieces of evidence did Alfred Wegener use to support his idea of "continental drift"? (more than one answer) a) Fossil distribution b) Age of Sea floor c) Similarities in rock sequences d) Glacial Flow direction
a) Fossil distribution c) Similarities in rock sequences d) Glacial Flow direction
Which of the following characteristics is true of oceanic crust as compared to continental crust? a) Higher in Mg and Fe b) uniform composition all over the world c) oldest rock ~4 billion years d) Thicker (20-75 km) e) oldest rock ~ 180 million years f) Thinner (5-8 km) g) High silica content h) heterogeneous composition all over the world
a) Higher in Mg and Fe b) uniform composition all over the world e) oldest rock ~ 180 million years f) Thinner (5-8 km)
What two major discoveries were made in the 1950's that helped scientists develop the theory of Plate Tectonics? a) Discovery that the seafloor is a flat, sediment covered expanse b) Discovery that the magnetic field is recorded in rocks that make up the ocean floor c) Discovery that the Earth is getting bigger over time d) Fossil distribution on continents e) Discovery of mountain belts on the seafloor
b) Discovery that the magnetic field is recorded in rocks that make up the ocean floor e) Discovery of mountain belts on the seafloor
Which of the following is true of the difference between the lithosphere and asthenosphere? (more than one correct answer, select all that apply) a) The boundary is imaginary and has no physical basis b) The distinction is based on how rocks in each of those layers respond to stress c) The distinction between the two layers is based on pressure and temperature d) The distinction is based on the chemical composition of the two layers
b) The distinction is based on how rocks in each of those layers respond to stress c) The distinction between the two layers is based on pressure and temperature
When two oceanic lithospheric plates converge, what type of boundary will form? a) Subduction Zone b) Transform plate boundary c) Divergent plate boundary d) Collisional plate boundary
b) Transform plate boundary
Why wasn't Wegener's idea of continental drift accepted by the scientific community? a) There wasn't enough evidence to support it b) Wegener didn't have a mechanism to support his idea c) He never presented his ideas to the scientific community d) Everyone thought he was crazy
b) Wegener didn't have a mechanism to support his idea
What causes movement of the lithospheric plates? a) Volcanic activity b) Gravity c) Convection in the mantle d) Convection in the core
c) Convection in the mantle
Which of the following is an example of a feature of a collisional plate boundary? a) Japan Islands b) The Mid-Atlantic Ridge c) Himalayan Mountains d) San Andreas fault
c) Himalayan Mountains
The outer layer of the earth that is broken up into tectonic plates that move relative to one another is called: a) The core b) The Asthenosphere c) The Lithosphere d) The Crust e) The Mantle
c) The Lithosphere
At a subduction zone between an oceanic plate and a continental plate, which plate will subduct and why? continental because it is less dense a) It depends on how old the plates are b) continental because it is more dense c) oceanic because it is more dense d) oceanic because it is less dense
c) oceanic because it is more dense
Which of the following is true of Transform Plate Boundaries? (More than one answer). a) The largest earthquakes form there b) They are associated with lots of volcanoes c) They Himalayan Mountains from along one d) The San Andreas fault is an example of one
d) The San Andreas fault is an example of one